Multi-Switch:

[restino]

Zinwell 4X8 Multi - Switch with AC/DC Module Model

SAM-4803 DIRECTV Approved

Compatible with DIRECTV dish antennas 18"x24"(Oval) and 18"x20" (Round)
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is the above switch any good or is it too old to work well with my non HD tivo receivers all over the house?

i need to setup 6 tivos so need to use the 2 lines running to each room (12 total) . this means i will need to somehow parallel or serial connect another multi-switch up to thte current 4x8 multi-switch. i only have 2 inputs from the round dual-LNB. how do i do this connecting with both switches?

thanks for any input

[litzdog911]

Yes, two of these multiswitches will work fine ....

Easiest way is to "cascade" one multiswitch after the other. Connect the two cables from your dish to the two "SatA/101-deg" inputs on your first multiswitch. Connect two of its outputs to your second multiswitch. That will give you 6 available outputs off of the first multiswitch and 8 off of the second multiswitch, for a total of 14.

[restino]

thanks for the super fast info. very much appreciated more then you know.

that goes for anybody else replying as well. you guys really help a lot!

[John T Smith]

See my response #4 here
http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=347936

Works great if you don't have an antenna going into the multiswitch

[restino]

the current switch i have is a zinwell wb68 whwich provides ka/ku signals, i guess those are for HD, which we dont have yet. also, this switch isnt powered.

does anyone know if i should buy the same switch or better to get the first one i talked about above which was the Zinwell 4X8 Multi - Switch with AC/DC Module Model SAM-4803 DIRECTV Approved.

my concern is using two different switches cascaded and not having it work. one powered and the other not, etc. not really up to speed on what problems i would encounter.

[restino]

ive also seen that the WB-68 is not cascadable. what does that mean to my connections if i am just trying to increase the number of outputs at the wb-68 switch i already have. how else would i connect it if i added the same switch?

thanks

[wolflord11]

The wb68 is cascadable. Also it makes no difference if you have the powered or non powered models, and you can mix and match them.

litzdog911 above has basically pointed out how to do it:

"Yes, two of these multiswitches will work fine ....

Easiest way is to "cascade" one multiswitch after the other. Connect the two cables from your dish to the two "SatA/101-deg" inputs on your first multiswitch. Connect two of its outputs to your second multiswitch. That will give you 6 available outputs off of the first multiswitch and 8 off of the second multiswitch, for a total of 14."

BUT:

Run all cables from your Dish or Dishes to the first Multiswitch. Then run Two feeds from your First Multi into the Second. Just make sure One goes to 13V the other to 18V. If you run both to the same you can lose channels. The odd and even channels use different voltages.

This will give you a Total of 14 outputs. Also, if you have your locals on Sat 72.5 which uses a seperate dish, it has Two feeds, but you only need one to each Multiswitch. If this is the case for you, Run One feed to Flexport 1 on the first switch, and the second feed to flexport One on the second Switch. :D

[BigBearf]

The wb68 is cascadable. Also it makes no difference if you have the powered or non powered models, and you can mix and match them.


Wolflord 11,
In the spirit of communication and not to argue I would like to add the following. I have a fairly complicated setup including 5LNB dish, 3 WB616 powered multiswitches and 3 WB68s. I have 8 HR10s, 5 SD-DVRs and 2 HR20s. I found that the powered multiswitches are cascadable without having to run in parallel as described by litzdog. BTW, the WB616s were about $250 each about 6 months ago.

I use 2 of the powered WB616s to distribute to 4 main areas where I have pulled 4+1 OTA cables and then 2+1 OTA cables throughout the rest of the house. I then use the WB68 at the end in these 4+1 OTA pull areas so I can have up to 4 DVRs at these 4 locations. The last WB616 is cascaded and allows 8 DVRs- I have two SD DVRs, 4 HR10s and 1 HR20 at this location. So many D* DVRs and so little time.

I was not able to simply cascade the WB68s and I did not try the parallel route. BTW, the 5 LNB AT9 dish works fine with the HR10, SD DVRs and the HR20. I would highly recommend running a separate OTA cable to all locations. I could not diplex OTA signals with the WB68 or WB616s.

Hope this helps
BigBearf

[texasbrit]

The wb68 is cascadable. Also it makes no difference if you have the powered or non powered models, and you can mix and match them.

litzdog911 above has basically pointed out how to do it:

:D

litzdog was referring to cascading two POWERED multiswitches which works fine. The WB68 is unpowered and you can't cascade them reliably.

You can use wideband splitters, power-passing both ports, to split the lines from the dish and drive two WB68s in parallel, many people have successfully done that.